The Gin Palace is a small, 4 wheeled balcony carriage designed to be a luxury saloon to accompany the Trust’s locomotives when they visit railways around the UK. The design is based on a Richmond Light Railway carriage (No.3) which is itself based on a Schull and Skibbereen Railway carriage from Ireland. The Gin Palace is closer in size to the original than the RLR version, being larger in every dimension whilst retaining broadly similar proportions.
It started life as a Royal Navy Armaments Depot (RNAD) wagon some time early in the Second World War. It, along with another that is now at the Gunpowder Railway (Royal Gunpowder Mills), came with the COFERNA Diesel from the Roger Craven private collection in Essex. Both wagons had previously been sold at an MOD auction and still had lot tags on them when they arrived. The initial plan was to build two matching carriages but that was revised down to one when it became clear that building them to the required standard would exceed budgetary predictions.
The chassis was widened and lengthened in our own workshop. Statfold Engineering supplied drawgear to the same design as that used on their own fleet of ex-RNAD wagons, and Alan Keef Ltd supplied a kit of twin pipe air braking equipment to the design created for the late Adrian Shooter’s Beeches Light Railway. The wheel sets were replaced with better condition ones fitted with Timkin roller bearings from the Ashover Light Railway which were rebuilt and regauged by CMS Cepcor. The chassis was built and finished to completion (excluding the body, electrics, etc.) in house.
Load, dynamic and brake testing was carried out at the Statfold Barn Railway. Because significant alterations had been carried out, including a change to leaf springs and the fitting of air brakes, it was necessary to test and prove the performance of the vehicle in real world conditions. To achieve this it was loaded with 2 tonnes of dead weight then hauled at various speeds through different types of trackwork both with and without trailing loads of various weights. Automatic brake application tests were performed on a gradient to test the ability of the carriage to stop itself in the event of a coupling failure.
The tests went very well, with the carriage exhibiting excellent ride quality on the softer leaf springs that replaced the originals (very hard, wagon specification coil springs) and good dynamic behaviour over pointwork and curves.
After its return to the Trust’s workshops the Diesel heater, fuel tank, batteries, shore power socket, step lights, inter-vehicle jumpers and fall plates and running lights were fitted. The running lights can illuminate either white or red. The white isn’t for use as headlights; it is inspired by American private rail cars that frequently have lights mounted on the rear to illuminate what the vehicle has just passed when used at night, which makes travel on the balcony after dark much more entertaining.
The Ffestiniog Railway’s quotations for the construction of the hardwood framed body, fitting of vacuum brakes (in addition to the air brakes) and a screw type handbrake were accepted, and the carriage moved to Boston Lodge works where it will stay until completion. Running in trails are to take place on the Welsh Highland Railway.
21st April 2026
DIscussions are underway with the Ffestiniog Railway regarding interior configuration. It is hoped that the pending work to the brakes (handbrake and vacuum fitting) will move to final quote stage soon.
Tough decisions on what moquette to use are underway! Suggestions are gratefully recieved! At the moment the front runners are “Leaf and Vines” or “Blazing Sun.”
25th July 2025
The exterior paintwork is now complete and the carriage has been rolled out of the Boston Lodge paint shop for photos. Once again the FR team have done a fantastic job. There will be a pause now as it waits for a slot in the erecting shop for brake work, then interior work will begin.
15th July 2025
A stunning exterior shot of the Gin Palace outside the carriage works at Boston Lodge.
03rd July 2025
The lining has now begun at Boston Lodge works. The Egyptian corner design is carried throughout the carriage and looks fantastic.
23rd June 2025
The latest photos from Boston Lodge show the Gin Palace looking lovely in the first coats of red.
20th May 2025
The doors are now glazed and fitted. Thanks to the Ffestiniog Railway for the photo.
11th April 2025
The latest photos from Boston Lodge show the primer coats mostly complete. The windows are now installed and the doors are nearing completion.
03rd April 2025
The Gin Palace features in the latest Ffestiniog Railway moving pictures video.
24th March 2025
The latest photos from the Ffestiniog Railway carriage works arrived over the past few days. The ventilator hoods, gutters and roof end trims are now installed. The drop light window frames and doors are also built and await glass before installation. As of today the first coat of pink primer is being painted on.
The intial contract is now almost complete. When this tranche of work is finished design work will start to turn the interior and electrical concepts into buildable designs, followed by a quote which we are hoping to be able to accept quickly. Depending on the schedule in the main works it is possible that the handbrake and vacuum brakes may be installed in between.
06th March 2025
The Gin Palace made its first foray out onto The Cob in Porthmadog today. It’s really interesting to see it next to a normal Welsh Highland Railway carriage. A big thanks is due to the Ffestiniog Railway for the photos.
03rd March 2025
The latest pictures from Boston Lodge show the ventilator holes drilled and the panel behind the ventilator hood primed. The second photo is a dry assembled door. These will have an etched glass upper half.
15th February 2025
The photos below are from the most recent visit to Boston Lodge works and show recent progress on the Gin Palace carriage. The roof is now installed and the first ventilator hood and gutter are trial fitted. The standard of work being turned out by Glenn Williams and his team at the Ffestiniog Railway is truly world class and is a credit to all involved.
Restoration photos up to January 2025.
